Elementary School Gives Students Gendered Facemasks, Children React
An elementary school gave it’s students gendered facemasks and it is getting called out.
Prof. Catherine Lebel tweeted a picture of the facemasks that her eight-year-old daughter was given last week, saying that the kid was “irritated” that they were given “girl masks” and “boy masks.”
While the “boy masks” were solid blue, the “girl masks” had hearts and kisses on them, as ‘LGBTQ Nation’ reports.
Lebel, who lives in Calgary, Canada, said that her daughter called the masks “stupid” but the child was “not hugely upset, just annoyed.”
“I am irritated by this, but not outraged,” Lebel said in a statement. “Certainly this is not the biggest thing we have to worry about right now, and I am glad to see the school providing masks.”
“However, it seems unnecessary to promote gender stereotypes and I think it’s important to call them out when I see them.”
“We try really hard not to talk about things being only for girls or boys and I really want kids (not just my own) to grow up with a sense of equal opportunity.”
The masks were designed by Old Navy and distributed by the government of Alberta to public schools.
“The sole goal of the masks is preventing the spread of COVID-19, not fashion statements or political agendas,” said a spokesperson for the province.
Lebel said that her kids already have masks and will be wearing those.
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